Chalk trough



P 1956 L. F. URBAIN 2,763,937

CHALK TROUGH Filed April 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J3 4 INVENTOR .1 Z3 %0Z0,%M/M

p 25, 1956 L. F. URBAIN 2,763,937

CHALK TROUGH Filed April-l8, 1950 I lkii I),

IIIrIl l/II'III A INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,763,937 CHALK TROUGl-I Leon F. Urbain, Chicago, Ill. Application-April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,550

1 Claim. (Cl. 35-67) This invention is concerned with a combination chalk and eraser holder of improved construction.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a unitary combination chalk and eraser holder having a separate chalk holding groove contiguous with an eraser trough for holding chalk in a readily available position and out of the dust sifting from erasers.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a chalk and eraser holder having a longitudinal chalk holding groove positioned along the front or free edge of an eraser holding tray to support the chalk in a handy position. I

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a chalk and eraser holder having an eraser holding trough or tray and an individual chalk holding groove extending along the outer or free edge of the chalk tray and raised above the adjacent portion of the eraser holding tray in order to support chalk in a readily available position and out of the dust sifting from erasers.

A specific object of this invention is the provision'of a chalk holding or receiving groove having a curved supporting surface substantially equal in radius to that of the chalk to be used therewith to protect the chalk from physical damage and to support the chalk in a position where it is more readily grasped.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a chalk and eraser holder having an integral map rail or tack strip.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chalk and eraser holder embodying my invention; c 7

V Fig. 2 is a'fragmentary" longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a different form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of the invention including a tack board;

Fig. 6 is a further modification shown in perspective;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the modification of the invention including both a tack board and map rail in addition to the chalk and eraser holder; and

Fig. 8 illustrates another modification of my invention.

Generally, my invention comprises a unitary chalk trough and eraser holder preferably extruded of metal such as aluminum or of plastic. A separate groove is provided for holding chalk along the front or free edge of the eraser trough or tray to support the'chalk in a handy position where it may be grasped from any direction but from directly below. The chalk is thus maintained away from the dust constantly sifting off from erasers and it is unnecessary for one writing at a chalk a of the wall.

2,763,937 Patented Sept. 25, 1956 board associated with the chalk trough and eraser holder to plunge his fingers into the chalkdust sifted from the erasers. In a preferred form of the invention, the chalk groove is raised above the adjacent portion of the eraser supporting tray or surface to make the chalk most readily available. The chalk groove in one preferred embodiment has a radius substantially equal to the chalk to be carried thereby. The chalk thus cannot roll around and is protected by the groove from physical shock. A rolling motion imparted to a stick of chalk by the users hand causes the chalk to pop up into the hand. Various modifications of the invention present a map rail or tack board securing structure extruded integrally with the chalk and eraser holder. The combination chalk and eraser holder is preferably snapped over supporting structure to provide a continuous pleasing appearance, although the invention has use with visible fasteners such as screws extending through portions of the chalk and eraser holder.

Referring first to Figs. 1-3 there is shown a combination chalk and eraser holder generally designated 10. The chalk and eraser holder is secured to a substantially vertical surface such as a wall 12 by means of longitudinal grounds 14 which may be secured to risers or the like 16 by means such as nails or screws (not shown) placed through spaced apertures in a longitudinal groove 17 in the front face 18 of the ground. The lower face 20 of the ground 14 abuts an outer wall surface'22 of plaster or the like so that the blackboard or oher chalk board 24 is flush with the outer surface An upper longitudinal flange 26 of the ground 14 underlies a backing member 32 which is placed behind the chalk board 24 to impart strength and rigidity thereto.'

Securing clips 34 are held on the front faces of the grounds 14 by screws 36 which may threadedly engage the grounds or may be placed through the grounds to engage the risers 16. The upper edge of each securing clip 34 is offset outwardly to form a shoulder 33 and is then curved upwardly and outwardly away from the plane of the front face of the grounds 14 to form a flange 38 while the lower edge of each such clip is offset outwardly to form a shoulder 39 and from there is curved downwardly and then again outwardly and upwardly to form a' substantially looped or hook shape camming surface 40; Inwardly turned lugs 41 are'struck out of the surface of each clip 34 at each end thereof to insure accurate positioning of each clip and so that each clip can be secured non-rotatably with a single screw if desired.

The combination chalk and eraser holder has an undulated angularly disposed surface 42 comprising an eraser supporting tray or trough, the undulations allowing chalk dustreadily to sift away from the erasers and allowing the erasers more readily to be gripped. The undulated surface 42 terminates at its inner upper edge in a featheredge 44 hearing against the chalk board 24 to prevent chalk dust from sifting between the chalk board and eraser and chalk holder; A longitudinal flange 46 having a. curved front face depends from the surface42-below the feather edge 44 to engage over and behind the flanges 38 of theclips 34 to support the chalk and eraser holder 10.

The lower outer or free edge of the eraser supporting groove 52 s pacedabove the lower edge of the erasen supportingsurface or tray 42 and havinga. radius of.

curvature substantially equal to the radius ,ofchalk to .be placed therein. A curved wall 54 depends from directly below the curved flange 50 and terminates at the plaster 3 or other wall surface 22 in an upturned longitudinal flange S6. The entire chalk and eraser holder is integral and preferably is extruded of metal such as aluminum or of plastic having some resiliency, so that the depending flange 46 may be placed over and behind the clip flanges 38 and the upturned flanges 56 at the bottom of the chalk and eraser holder may be snapped over the camming surface 40 to hold the chalk and eraser holder 10 snugly against the plaster or other outer wall surface 22 and the chalk board 24. A cap member 58 having an undulated upper surface 60 and an upstanding finger 62 corresponding substantially to the cross section of the chalk and eraser holder 10 is secured to the chalk and eraser holder by screws 64 passing through the chalk and eraser holder 10 and threaded into flanges 66 integral with the cap member 58 and extending into the chalk and eraser holder 10. The outer portion of the cap member 58 extends upwardly as a finger 62 to block the end of the groove 52 to prevent pieces of chalk 68 from sliding out of the groove 52 endwise.

It may be seen readily that an eraser will rest on the surface or tray 42 abutting the curved flange 48 of the chalk supporting groove 52. Chalk dust from erasers will remain in the lower portions of the undulations particularly the portion adjacent the curved flange 48 and an eraser will be supported by the upper portions of the undulations out of contact with the chalk dust. A piece of chalk 68 placed in the chalk holding groove 52 is maintained completely away from the chalk dust in the eraser tray so that a teacher, student or other person using the chalk board will not have his fingers covered by chalk dust when grasping the chalk. The chalk 68 being supported at the outer edge of the chalk holder and chalk and eraser holder 10 is in the handiest possible location and practically presents itself to the users hand. This is particularly true when the chalk groove is raised above the joining portion of the eraser supporting surface and has a radius substantially equal to that of the chalk as is shown in Figs. 1-3.

In Fig. 4 there is shown an open type chalk and eraser holder construction utilized with a chalk board which extends outwardly from an outer surface of the wall. The outer wall surface 22a may be of plaster or other finishing material or may be of concrete, cinder blocks or the like. A ground 14a is secured to the outer wall surface 22a by any suitable means such as screws 70 extending through apertures in a longitudinal groove 17a in the ground. An upwardly extending longitudinal flange 26a may be secured to the wall surface 22a if desired and is overlain by a backing member 32a having a chalk board 24a directly in front of it. Securing clips 34a identical with those disclosed previously and having an upper flange 38a and a lower camming surface or flange 40a are secured to the ground 14a by any suitable means such as screws (not shown) threaded into the front face of the ground 14a and lugs 41a. Alternatively, some of the screws 70 may extend through the clips as well as through the ground 14a to secure the clips and ground in position.

The eraser supporting surface or tray 80 shown in Fig. 4 is undulated and is substantially horizontal rather than inclined in a manner similar to the surface 42 disclosed heretofore. At its inner edge the undulated eraser supporting surface 80 curves smoothly into an inclined upper surface 82 terminating in an upper feather edge 84 to direct chalk dust from the board onto the eraser tray. A longitudinal flange 86 depends from below the feather edge 84 to fit over and in back of the upper flanges 38a of the clips 34a. A lon itudinal slot 88 is provided between the feather edge 84 and flange 86 in order that the feather edge may be as sharp as possible and in order to impart flexibility to the upper inner portion of the chalk and eraser holder 10a and hence easier mounting. A chalk carrying groove 50a is integral with the outer edge of the undulated surface and is defined by upstanding curved flanges 48a and 50a. A short depending flange extends longitudinally below the flange 50a to provide longitudinal stiflness.

A fluted front face 92 presenting an attractive ornamental appearance depends from the inner edge of the undulated surface 80 and is terminated by an inwardly directed wall 94. The inwardly directed wall 94 extends to the outer wall surface 22a and has an upstanding longitudinal flange 96 abutting against this surface. A narrow upstanding flange 98 spaced inwardly from the fluted front face 92 is snapped over the lower clip flanges 40a to secure the chalk and eraser holder 10a in conjunction with the flange 86 and upper clip flanges 38a. The type of chalk board construction shown in Fig. 4 which extends from the outer wall surface rather than being mounted flush therewith is particularly useful on unfinished walls of cinder blocks or the like such as are used frequently in schools to keep the construction cost down and on walls which were not originally intended to support blackboards or other types of chalk boards. Erasers are supported on the undulated eraser supporting surface or tray 80 with chalk dust from the erasers sifting to the bottoms of the undulations and the erasers resting on the top thereof, while the chalk is supported in the raised chalk groove 52a along the outer edge of the eraser supporting surface where it readily may be grasped without immersing the fingers in chalk dust.

Often in class rooms it is desired to hang papers such as illustrative drawings beneath a blackboard. Heretofore it has been necessary either to push thumb tacks into the woo-den molding beneath the blackboard or to secure a tack strip of some material such as cork which readily receives and releases thumb tacks beneath the bhackboard. A Wooden molding is disfigured and eventually destroyed by having thumb tacks pushed into it and it is very difficult to remove the thumb tacks. The provision of an additional tack board is unsightly and makes construction needlessly complicated. As shown in Fig. 5 it is within the contemplation of this invention that a tack board should be supplied with the tack board holder being integral with the chalk and eraser holder. Most of the structure shown is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 and is identified by similar reference numerals with the addition of the subscript b. The chalk (and eraser holder 10b comprises an undulated eraser supporting surface or tray 8012 terminating in a chalk holding groove which is not shown. An upper inclined surface 82b is terminated by a feather edge 84b bearing against a chalk board 24b. The chalk board is provided with a backing 32b which bears against the outer wall surface 22b. A horizontal ground 14b is secured against the outer wall surface 22b by any desirable means such as screws, and an upper longitudinal flange 26b underlies the backing 32b. A plurality of securing clips 34b having upper and lower flanges 38b and 40b respectively are secured in spaced relation along the ground 14b. A depending flange 86b fits over and behind the flange 38b and is separated from the feather edge 84b by a horizontal groove 88b permitting flexibility of the upper portion of the chalk and eraser holder 10b to facilitate its being snapped into position over the clip 34b. An inwardly directed lower wall 94b terminating in an upturned flange 96b and having a narrow upwardly directed flange 98b carried behind the flange 40b is joined to the undulating surface 80b and inclined surface 82b by a substantially vertical wall 100. Upper and lower flanges 102 and 104 are spaced from the wall in confronting relation and secure a tack board 106 of cork or other construction adapted to receive and to release tacks readily. As may be seen, the entire chalk and eraser holder, excepting of course the structure supporting it on the wall and the tack board 106, is readily extruded as an integral member which is readily mounted with no fastening members showing to present a pleasing appearance to the eye. The upwardly directed fllange 96b and the portion of the lower wall 94b to the rear of the flange 98b may be omitted if it is desired to use the chalk and eraser holder shown with a chalk board mounted flush with the outer wall surface.

Sometimes chalk boards have their lower edges placed rather low on a wall so that the area immediately below the chalk and eraser holder is hidden from view and is relatively inaccessible. For such installations, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 has been provided. As may be seen this form of the invention differs from that shown in Fig. particularly in having the tack board spaced some distance below the eraser supporting surface or tray. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 similar parts are identified by reference numerals similar to those used heretofore with the addition of the subscript 0. A ground 14c having an upwardly directed longitudinal flange 26c is secured against an outer wall surface 220 by suitable means such as screws (not shown). Securing clips 34c are secured lat spaced intervals on the outer faces of the grounds 140 by any desirable means and have upper and lower flanges 38c and 40c respectively. A chalk board 24c rests atop the body of the ground 14c with a backing member 320 interposed between it and the outer wall surface 22c and overlying the ground flange 26c. The chalk and eraser holder c comprises an undulating eraser supporting surface or tray 80c terminated at its outer edge by a chalk supporting groove 520. An angularly disposed surface 820 at the inner edge of the eraser supporting tray has an upper feather edge 84c impinging against the front of the chalk board 24c to direct dust falling down the front of the board onto the eraser supporting tray from whence it may be readily brushed off. A depending longitudinal flange 866 is separated from the feather edge 840 by a longitudinal groove or channel 88c permitting flexibility of the upper portion of the structure. A fluted front face 920 depends from below the angularly disposed surface 820 and is provided with an upwardly directed flange 98c spaced therefrom and snapped under and in back of the flange 400. A vertical wall 100a extends downwardly from below the flange 86c and is provided with upper and lower longitudinal flanges 102c and 104a defining an art-icle receiving channel and securing a tack board insert 106c of cork or the like. It will be noted that the upper flange 102c is substantially a continuation of the fluted front face 92c. A lower wall 940 and upwardly directed flange 96c abutting the outer wall surface 22c complete the structure shown in Fig. 6 when this structure is used with a chalk board mounted flush with the outer wall surface.

When permanent sheets such as maps, charts and the like, are hung on a wall it is desirable that they should not be perforated by thumb tacks. Additionally, such maps or charts are generally too heavy to be held successfully by thumb tacks. To support maps or charts in addition to other papers below a chalk and eraser holder I have provided the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7 wherein a map rail having a series of slidably mounted hooks is formed on the lower portion of the chalk and eraser holder.

In Fig. 7, as also in Fig. 8, the chalk board ground and outer wall surface have not been shown in detail as they may be similar to those shown heretofore and the ground may be omitted if desired. The structure has been shown as secured in place by screws but it is to be understood that it could be provided with flanges and snapped into place over flanged securing clips as has been shown in the foregoing figures. Similar parts are identified by numerals similar to those used heretofore with the addition or substitution of the subscript d. The chalk and eraser holder 10d includes an undulating eraser supporting surface or tray 80d terminated at its outer edge by a chalk carrying groove (not shown) and at its inner edge by an angularly disposed surface 82d having an upper feather edge 84d in intimate contact with the front surface of the chalk board 24d. A longitudinal fluted face 92d depends from below the feather edge 84d and is secured against the outer wall surface 22b by means such as screws 108. A substantially vertical wall d extends downwardly from the fluted face 92d and is provided at its top and bottom with upper and lower flanges 102d and 104d directed toward one another. The rear face 100d may be secured to the outer wall surface 22b by means such as screws 110. A longitudinal T-shaped flange 112 extends outwardly from the midsection of the vwall 100d to provide in conjunction with the upper and lower flanges 102d and 104d respectively, upper and lower larticle receiving channels 114 and 116. A plunality of sliding blocks 118 overlie the top and bottom inturned flanges 102d and 104d and the T-shaped flange 112 and are secured by upper and lower channels 120 and 122 receiving the flange 102d and the upper edge of the T-shaped flange 112. Hooks 124 and clips 126 are carried by the blocks 118 to secure maps, charts and other papers. A tack board insert 106d of cork or the like is carried by the lower channel 116 so that temporary papers may be secured thereto by thumb tacks or the like.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that shown in Fig. 7 in that it is not shown as the snap over type, although it is contemplated that it would be constructed to be mounted similarly to any of the modifications shown in Figs. 1-6. In this form the tack board provided is spaced forwardly of the ornamental fluted surface spacing it from the eraser carrying tray in order to make the tack board more readily laccessible. As in the foregoing figures similar parts are identified by similar reference numerals with the addition of the subscript e. The chalk and eraser holder 10s includes an undulating eraser supporting surface or may 80c having an integral chalk carrying groove 52a formed integrally therewith and extending longitudinally along the free edge thereof. As in the foregoing embodiments of the invention the chalk groove preferably is naised above the adjoining section of the eraser supporting surface to make chalk placed therein more readily accessible. The inner or rear edge of the eraser supporting surface blends into an angularly disposed surface 82:: having an upper feather edge 842 below which is spaced a fluted front face 92:: which may be formed with spaced screw receiving apertures (not shown) in order that the chalk and eraser holder may be secured against a wall land chalk board. A substantially vertical wall 100:: comprises a downward extension of the fluted face 92e and is separated from it by a longitudinal T-shaped flange 128 and is terminated at its lower edge by a downwardly extending T-shaped flange 130. The T-shaped flanges 128 and 130 define a channel between them which carries a tack board 106s of cork or similar material. It is-.within the contemplation of this invention that clips could be snapped over the outer flanges of the T-shaped flanges 128 and 130 to support display items not advantageously held by tacks pushed into the tack board 106a.

A new and improved integral combination chalk and eraser holder has been disclosed herein in which a chalk carrying groove extends longitudinally along the free edge of the eraser supporting surface or tray and preferably is spaced above the adjoining portion of the eraser supporting tray. The chalk groove has a curved surface having a radius of the same order as the radius of the chalk to be carried thereby to protect the chalk from physical shock and supports the chalk away from the dust sifting from the erasers so that the chalk readily may be clasped by a user without coating the fingers with chalk dust. Structure has been shown for securing the combination chalk and eraser holder with fasteners which are not visible when the chalk and eraser holder is placed in position or by conventional fasteners such as screws placed through a holder and visible from the outside thereof. The chalk and eraser holder also has been dis- "7 closed in combination with integral map nails and tack boards whereby maps, charts and other papers and the like may be hung beneath the eraser and chalk supporting surfaces.

Although particular forms of my invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto but includes all that which fialls within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

A unitary combination chalk and eraser holder comprising a base portion adapted to be secured in engage? ment with a substantially vertical surface of a chialkboard panel adjacent the lower edge of said chalkboard panel, and integral undulated eraser supporting portion including alternate peaks and troughs and extending outwardly and downwardly away from said base portion, said eraser supporting portion terminating in an integnal eraser retaining and chalk supporting Portion curving upwardly and outwardly from said eraser supporting portion, thence curving downwardly a lesser distance and upwardly to form a chalk groove positioned with the bottom thereof elevated above the adjacent peak of said undul-ated eraser supporting portion, and thence extending downwardly and rearwardly beneath said enaser supporting portion to a point spaced below said base portion 8 to provide a second base portion adapted to be secured in co-planar relation to said vertical chalkboard surface, whereby said chalk =groove supports chalk in a readily accessible position free frorn chalk dust on said eraser supporting portion and spaced away from chalk dust sifting down from the associated chalkboard planel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,505 Brower July 7, 1891 466,704 Reily Jan. 5, 1892 732,863 Jones July 7, 1903 883,402 Hainline Mar. 31, 1908 1,979,773 Ritch Nov. 6, 1934 2,135,982 Masters Nov. 8, 1938 2,182,481 Lowry Dec. 5, 1939 2,283,272 Lowry May 19, 1942 2,319,278 Urbain May 18, 1943 2,338,146 Urbain Jan. 4, 1944 2,469,347 Windhorst May 3, 1949 2,485,517 Vau'le et al. Oct. 18, 1949 2,651,852 Urbain Sept. 15, 1953 2,679,700 Urbain June 1, 1954 

